162 Letters to the Governor and Council

April 4

[Jas. Calhoun, Baltimore, to the Governor and Council.]
Favoured by Capt. Keepot

My last to you was the 21^st Ult^o p M^r Smith since which am
without any of your favors.
I was in hopes by this time to have been able to give your Honble
Board a particular acco^t of the prospects there was of collecting Pro-
visions on this shore but as yet the County Commissaries have not
made returns. However by what I can learn there will be little or no
Meat paid in, and I know not what will be done for that article, The
consumption at this Post alone has been from 8 to 10000 lbs p Month
for some time past and I have not one shilling to purchase that or any
other article therefore most earnestly request you will if possible send
me some or an order on our Collector who will probably be able to
pay it
I would have done myself the Honor to have waited on you myself
this week to consult about the means of procuring such articles of
Provisions &c^a as may not be paid in for Taxes and the collecting
to Magazines those that are but understand the Marquis De La
Fayette Detachm^t are to pass through here on their way to the
Northward therefore think it will be improper for me to be from
home at that time

April 4

[Legh Masters, To His Excell^y y^l Governor & the Hon^ble
The Council]

I hope your Excellence & The Hon^ble Council will not think me
impertinent in making this further application to beg you will allow
me to return back to New Providence I shd not have been thus trou-
blesome if I had not imagined that my last letter of 26^th ult. had not
from y^l Variety of Business slipt your memory. As I am circum-
stanced in being obliged to return so soon ( for there is no venturing
to stay longer than the fall; so precarious is it to get into this Bay
after Christmas) makes me hope that your Honours will give me
permission to sail which will greatly oblige

April 4
Red Book
No, 32
Letter 52

[James McHenry, Baltimore, to His Excellency Governor Lee.]

I believe I mentioned confidentially to your Excellency that the
Pennsylvania line was intended to reinforce the Southern Army. It
is now collecting at Philadelphia under the Generals S^t Clair and
Wayne. I do not learn how many have got together; but be the
number what it will, they neither are nor can be of any service at
Philadelphia. The situation of Annapolis and Baltimore encourages
the use of expedients, however momentary that relief which they
afford. If these Towns could be made the rendezvous for the troops,
it would give them a present protection; render calling in the Militia
unnecessary, while it offered to government an opportunity for carry-
ing into effect its plans for the defence of the sea-board at large.